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3 states awarded AVMF grants

Posted Feb. 13, 2013

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation announced Jan. 4 that a total of $45,000 in grant aid has been awarded to three organizations to support state animal disaster preparedness and response efforts.

PetAid Colorado was awarded a $20,000 matching grant. Its Disaster Services division assisted with the medical care and evacuation of animals during the Colorado wildfires this past summer (see JAVMA, Aug. 15, 2012).

Receiving a $5,000 start-up grant, the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians is a member of the South Carolina Emergency Support Function 17–Animal Emergency Preparedness. This multiagency group has started to work statewide to prepare for, and respond to, emergencies involving animals.

And finally, the Utah Emergency Animal Response Coalition was honored with a $20,000 challenge grant. This group of animal-related organizations continues to be a resource for emergency planners, veterinarians, pet and livestock owners, and volunteers to improve the evacuation and sheltering of pets and livestock during large and small disasters in Utah.

Grant recipients are chosen by the AVMF Grants and Awards Committee, which reviews each application for merit and scores it on the basis of various criteria.

The grants were made possible through the AVMF Animal Disaster Relief and Response Fund, which was established Sept. 1, 2005, to provide funding for disaster relief efforts in connection with Hurricane Katrina and future disasters. ​